Comedians Withdraw from Lisbon Festival Over Jerry Seinfeld's Pro-Israel Stance

Several Portuguese comedians and artists have withdrawn from the inaugural Lisbon International Humour Festival, Commedia a La Carte Fest, scheduled for October 29 to November 1, due to the participation of American comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his public support for Israel. Actress Inês Aires Pereira announced her withdrawal from her show "Namastê," stating that "one of the names insists on defending ideas and actions" she deems "indefensible," without directly naming Seinfeld. The comedy duo Cebola Mol, comprising Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, also canceled their participation, using a watermelon emoji in their announcement, a symbol of Palestinian support. Other acts pulling out include the "Tributo Pop" concert featuring Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka, and Bárbara Tinoco, the group Conjunto Cuca Monga, comedian Pedro Tochas, and artist Vhils, though most did not publicly state their reasons. Organizers have not indicated any intention to remove Seinfeld from the lineup, and his performance is still scheduled for November 1 at the MEO Arena. Seinfeld has consistently expressed support for Israel since the October 7 attacks, visiting Israel to meet with hostage families and making public statements. His pro-Israel stance has led to protests, including students walking out of a Duke University ceremony in May 2024 and pro-Palestinian activists disrupting a show in Sydney in June. Seinfeld recently compared the "Free Palestine" movement to the Ku Klux Klan, suggesting its supporters hide anti-Jewish sentiment.